Danish Cheese Makers Win, Lose On Feta Ruling

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March 7, 1996

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — Feta cheese is Greek on the inside but can be Danish on the outside, the European Commission said Wednesday in one of its classic compromises. The commission, which is the European Union's executive body, said Denmark could continue exporting its own version of the traditionally Greek cheese outside Europe. But, if it wants to sell within the EU, it will have to find a new name for its product to distinguish it from Greek feta cheese. But the Commission proposed that six other well-known cheeses - Cheddar, Edam, Gouda, Brie, Camembert and Emmenthal - be considered ''generic,'' meaning they need not be produced in a specific area. The decision was part of a proposal to protect 318 regional food products, ranging from beer to butter and from ham to honey, against imitations with the same names.